Chapter 28 #2
I was honestly surprised to find out that they haven’t. And my lovesick, delusional brain lets me think that maybe, just maybe, it was because of me and of all the time we’ve been spending together.
I’ve seen the way they look at me, the way they noticed how much I’ve changed.
They’ve been seeing with their own eyes that I’m not the girl they thought I was. I stupidly thought that maybe I was winning them over on my own, that maybe the résumé of murders might not be my only way to win their hearts.
I was hoping that these new changes they were seeing in me might help sway their decision when it came to keeping me at bay.
Clearly, I’ve gotten it all wrong, because as I look at the camera feed, my stomach sinks.
From the look of it, based on the background and surrounding area, they’re here. On Bourbon Street. With not one, but three fucking girls sitting in their laps.
My hand clenches around my phone, my breathing becoming more labored with every breath I force into my lungs.
The chaos of the partygoers around me drifts away, replaced with the sound of blood pounding in my ears, and an all-consuming fury slithers into my veins. It starts at the top of my head, melting over me like a thick coat of paint, all the way down to my toes.
They told me they had to work, that they weren't coming to any of today's festivities.
They lied to me, right to my fucking face.
Why? Why would they tell me they weren’t coming, only to show up anyway? And instead of wanting to come here with me, they’d rather spend time with those stupid whores?
“Nola, is everything alright?” My mom’s concerned voice snaps me back to reality.
“Huh?” I blink, forcing my gaze away from the phone.
“What’s wrong?” Mom asks. “Is everything okay? You look upset.”
“I’m fine.” I force a smile because I’m not. I’m anything but fine.
I thought they were coming around. I thought they were finally accepting the fact that we belonged together, seeing it with their own eyes what was right in front of them.
I’ve been so stupid to think it would be that easy. They’re blind, only seeing what they want to see.
Well, I’m done taking my time. I’m done waiting to see if they will come around.
And I’m done holding myself back from killing anyone connected to them.
Tonight, I’m not only adding to my list. I’m fucking finishing it.
“I just got a text from Callie. She told me something about the guy she was seeing,” I lie.
“Oh, you mean that sweet boy hanging around you two?”
“Yeah.” I laugh, loving how much Callie would hate that my mom thinks she and Garrett are together.
“What did that boy do?” Mom frowns. “He better be treating her like the angel she is.”
She would not be thinking of Callie that way if she knew the kind of things Callie has been helping me out with.
“He’s just being stupid. Like most boys are.” I shrug. “Nothing to worry about. But I’m actually going to meet up with her. Are you two okay heading out on your own?”
“Are you sure? We can stay if you want,” Mom offers.
“Nah. It’s okay. Callie is just down the street. I’m going to meet up with her. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“Okay.” Mom pulls me in for a hug. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Hazel, baby, could you grab me a few churros before we head out? I wanna talk to Nola for a second.” Dad reaches into his pocket and hands her a twenty-dollar bill, nodding to the churro stand behind us.
“Of course." She beams up at him. Dad leans in and presses a sweet kiss to her lips.
“Thank you, gorgeous.”
Mom giggles, a blush staining her cheeks. If I weren’t so pissed right now, I'd be swooning over how adorably perfect they are for one another.
Instead, I’m itching with the need to slide my blade across each one of those home wreckers’ throats.
She goes over to the stand, and Dad turns to me.
“What's wrong?” he asks me. “And this time, no lying.”
For the first time, I’m kind of embarrassed. I’m not going to tell my dad that I’ve foolishly let myself believe these three would come around to the idea of making me theirs on their own.
It’s my own fault for thinking that my being a little bolder with some sass and pushing boundaries would convince them.
“I’m going to be out late tonight,” I tell him, casting my gaze around us.
“Nola. What are you planning?”
I lick my lips, feeling a little crazed. I know I should take a step back, think about my next steps, and do the logical, smart thing.
Like I said, I should. Does that mean I’m going to? Fuck no.
And I think my dad can see the look in my eyes that something big is about to happen.
“I’m telling them who I am tonight.”
“Okay.” He nods slowly. “Am I to assume that it’s not going to be a sit-down conversation?"
“Nope.” I shake my head.
He lets out a heavy sigh.
“Would it be a waste of my time to tell you to make smart decisions and be careful?”
“Most likely.” I nod.
“How many?” He means how many bodies am I going to leave behind tonight.
“At this moment, I’m not sure. One for sure, but I’m going to go with more than that.”
“Don’t get caught,” he warns. “Are you doing this as BK or you?”
“Me,” I answer. “I’m done playing games, Dad. Tonight they’re going to know everything.”
“And what if things don’t end up the way you want them to?”
“There’s no other way.” I narrow my eyes. “They will be mine. Officially.”
He leans in, getting in my face with a very serious look. “You can’t kill them.”
“I could if I wanted to.” I hold my chin up. “But lucky for them, I love them. And I don’t hurt the ones I love.”
He takes me in for a moment and then nods. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll let my contact know something is going down tonight.”
I’m going to assume he’s talking about his informant from the NOPD.
Mom comes back over, and we all say our goodbyes. As soon as they’re gone, I bring the camera feed back up to scan for more details.
They’re still at the same place they were a few moments before, only this time there’s a whole group of girls surrounding them. The same ones still sit on the guy’s laps, but it seems their friends are jealous and want a piece of them, too.
I’d think better of that if I were you. At this point, you’re still going to get to keep breathing, but your friends aren’t going to be as lucky.
That is as long as they keep their hands to themselves.
The streets of New Orleans are packed, which is both a blessing and a curse.
There’s so much going on that no one is going to notice if one or two people go missing. People get swept up and lost in the crowds easily during times like this.
But that means more eyes that could potentially see me.
Music from all different kinds of instruments fills the air around me, mixing with the joyous laughter and chatter of the crowd.
People are dressed for the occasion, decked out in purple, green, and gold.
Someone walks past me, their face hidden behind a masquerade mask and my lips curve into a smile as an idea hits me.
What I need is a disguise. Something that will cover my face and help me blend into the crowd. Unfortunately, the media knows the Butterfly Killer by the mask, so they would spot me a mile away.
I quickly slip into one of the shops. Keeping my head down, I look around for the options of what I can get.
I decided on getting a full face mask. It’s cream with gold glitter shimmering over its cheeks and framing the face with green and purple, with gold coloring around the eyes.
On the side are beautiful feathers.
The outfit I’m wearing is a gold sequin top over a black skater dress, so it still matches nicely.
Once it’s paid for, I dip into an alley and quickly slip the mask on before checking my phone again.
They’re gone!
Fuck!
But some of the girls they were with before are still there, sitting at the same table the guys once were with their friends.
I better get there now before I lose them in the crowd. I’d hate to miss anyone if it can be helped.
The guys have no one to blame but themselves.
They lied to me, and now they’re going to pay the price. They are the reason those girls are losing their lives tonight, not me. I didn’t make them deceive me, they did that all on their own.
And if we’re going to make this work between the four of us, I will not tolerate lying.
Okay, so yes, they don’t know I’m the one running around New Orleans killing people, but it’s not like they asked me and I lied. It’s not the same.
I check Skittles' location so I can find out where this restaurant is. Once I know where I’m going, I make my way back out into the crowd of people and get lost, blending in just like I was hoping to.
I have to dodge a few rowdy, drunk men as I go, but I manage to make it to the restaurant just in time.
I look up to Skittles, who's still sitting on a lamppost, looking down at me while cocking his head to the side as if to say ‘you know which ones, right?’
I smile up at him and nod my head, letting him know it’s okay to leave. I want him to follow the guys. I need to know what they’re up to and who they’re with.
He lets out a caw before flapping his wings and taking off.
My attention shifts back to the group of girls, eyes zeroing in on my first three targets of the night.
I need to get this done fast if I plan on keeping up with the guys tonight. Because something tells me, they’re just getting started.
Good, because so am I.